Pistons cruise past Magic in Game 7, erase 3-1 deficit to win series

Detroit delivered a dominant 116-94 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 7 on Sunday, punching its ticket to the second round.

Trailing 3-1 after Game 4, the Pistons were at risk of becoming the seventh No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 8 in the first round in NBA playoff history. But instead, they rattled off three straight wins to advance.

It is the Pistons’ first series victory in 18 years.

Cade Cunningham led the way in Game 7, dropping 32 points with 12 assists in an efficient shooting performance — the fourth time in the seven-game series that he scored 30 or more.

Detroit rode a 40-27 second quarter to its big lead, and didn’t give Orlando time to make a comeback of its own, as the Pistons did on Friday.

After trailing by as many as 24 points in Game 6, the Pistons strung together an incredible second half to save their season.

They became the first team since play-by-play tracking began in 1996-97 to win on the road after trailing by at least 24 points while facing elimination.

Detroit will now await the winner of Game 7 between the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers later on Sunday.